culture

I’ve grown up hearing America called the melting pot of the world. If you spend time traveling Kansas, then you understand the Sunflower State is the biggest bubble in that boiling mess. In a few hours’ time, travelers can visit Lebanon, Denmark, Norway, and Cuba. During that journey, drivers can drop south to Glasco, named for Glasgow, Scotland. Kansas is a state of many cultures, evidenced not only by town names but also by buildings designed to honor old-country customs.

The online magazine Slate has come up with a list of favorite slang words for each of the fifty states, plus the District of Columbia. Some are widely recognized, such as California’s “hella” and Hawaii’s “aloha.” Others are less well-known, such as Connecticut’s “glawackus.”

RJ Sangosti spent the past year in high plains communities of Eastern Colorado. It is a time of struggle for the region. Years without rain are pushing changes in agriculture, the region’s main industry. Farms are getting bigger, pushing small farmers out. Young people are leaving to continue their education, and not returning. Corporate stores in nearby cities are strangling main street businesses. Housing values are declining.